The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1887-10-27

from me, you great nasty Polack! and
gavo Him such a slap in the face that
ne staggered of. The others laughed
and made no attempt to touch mo
when l went through them to set q
switch tor a train that was coming.
Alter that l went into the shanty and
the crowd went toward tho city; that
was the last saw of them.''
This was very simple, modest re.
cltal OF an event that few men would
have cared to have been concerned in.
The mob was made. up Of Polish Ia
borers who were flushed with victo rv at
tho West Milwaukee chops, and mad
announced their intention of driving
of evey workman found EMPLOYED
anywhere. It was composed of thu
same element that two days latter
made the attack on Bay View that re.
suited 80 disastrously to themselves.
Only once did Annie dodge q ques-
tioh:: That was when. rising to 20, l
asked: "How old are you, Annief"
"Just as old as I look" was the re.
ply, quick Us a fash, but the sting of
the words was drawn by q merry peal
of laughter.
"How old do I look2" she asked, q
moment later.
Alter q hasty sum in mental arith.
m me tk l!di;plomatically replied: "rwen.
''pm all o: that" was the smiling
response, and the interview closed.
The most prominent feature in An
mes character is her sunny DISPOSE
ton. This. perhaps, is the secret of
her hold on the rough men with whom
she is thrown in contact. She is new
er idle. When sitting in the switch
''shanty" she knits mittens and stock
ings both for herself and the remain
der OF tho family. When all are pro.
vided for she employs her needles on
wristiets, which find ready sale
among the train:crews.
Annie Is q Arm believer in woman's
rights, so far as they pertain to Ia.
Dor, but troubles herself very little
about the. question which agita.
tors continue to thrash over
and over: While they have been striv-
ing after the unattllinable, she has
been quietly working out practical
solution OF the perplexin2 problem.
Many stories are told of Annie's
pluck and dexterity, whereby serious
accidents which would have entailed
great destruction OF life and property
were averted. One of the most excit-
ing instances of the kind occurred a.
year or more ago. By way of preface
it must be explained that there is a.
down grade from the west toward the
switch shanty. On the occasion in
question heavy freight train was
coming down at full speed. AS it
neared one of the switches the engi.
neer was Mortified to find that it was
turned wrong. The clear, gl,stening
iron lines sparkled mischievously in
the sunlight up to the switch. There
they broke sharp of. Beyond was
wreck and danger, The engineer
whistled for brakes. reversed his en-
CINE. sanded the track in an endeavor
to check the ponderous mass
behind him. The wheels Missed,
snapped. and cracked as they endeav-
ored to get a reversegrip on the treach-
erous rails, but in vain. Annie was in
the house at the time, fifty yards
from the track. The whistle for
brakes brought her to the door. A
single glance showed her the danger
and her father hobbling toward the
switch. With bound she sprane
from the doorstep and sped down the
grassy path. Over the log foot bridge
that SPAWNED dip in the field she flew
up on to the track. The switch was
still twenty to thirty yards away.
Needless of the danger, for if the train
lett the track she was certain to be-
crushed, intent only on her duty. the
faithful girl run on. Nearer the engine
came, creaking and grooming. Just as
the wheels touched the last rail, Annie
reashed the switch. One hand pulled
the pin, the other turned the lever,
and the switch was set right with less
than ten feet to spare. The tram
rushed on in safety, with Annie
breathless but triumphant, waving a
salute to the crew without the least
thought of having done the least
thing heroic.
The story got out, however,
and Annie found herself, whether
she would or no, q heroine.
This was only one of many in.
stances where she has saved prop
erty from destruction by ner cool
head and prompt action.
The family live in q modest two
story frame house, painted q sober
brown. which stands back from the
track IN the midst of an unshaded
mead Nv. The house and fuel are fur
nished free by the company. This,
with the $40 salary, is supposed to
equal the $50 paid other switchmen.
Like them, Annie has a family to
support; but, unlike them, she gets
no pay fer Sunday work.
On this small income the family
live-as do hundr3 DIS of others-com.
fortably, but with little chance to lay
by anything for the inevitable "rainy
day."